Makinson hat- trick keeps Saints on top

TOMMY MAKINSON roared back into form with a first- half hat- trick as St Helens extended their lead at the Super League summit.

England winger Makinson was playing his second game back following a five- match ban for squeezing Castleford prop Liam Watts’ privates in August.

Veteran hooker James Roby also rolled back the years with two first- half tries and Kristian Woolf’s team are now odds- on to regain the League Leaders’ Shield before a top- four play- off for their title. Trinity had managed to restrict

Saints to just two tries in the opening 27 minutes from Roby and Makinson.

But the champions then took control with four touchdowns in the space of 13 minutes to lead 30- 0 at the break. Roby then poached his second try and Alex Walmsley crossed for a 10th touchdown of the season before Makinson dived over twice more, the first a remarkable finish.

Wakefield managed to stem the tide at the start of the second half and even scored a response of their own, on- loan winger Innes Senior outpacing Regan Grace for a long- range intercept try.